My cat, UC and the universe

I was cleaning carpets today and it reminded me that I wanted to share this little story:

about five years ago, my old 19 year old cat (now dead) got sick on Christmas Day. Poor thing got diarrhea. I was sad and upset as I knew it might be a sign of her dying because of her age. Since it was Christmas the vets were closed. I was hoping that she would just get better. Anyway, it was weird as I watched her as the day went on. Her diarrhea had blood and many times she just was stopping and trying to go anywhere but couldn't. I spent most of that Christmas day cleaning carpets and making sure she would drink water. I took her to the doctor the first thing in the morning. I was sad because I was sure the vet was going to tell me I had to put her down.
But guess what. Turns out my cat had Ulcerative colitis. When my vet (who didn't know I had the disease) said it, I must have had a bizarre look on my face so he then proceeded to explain the disease to me. I stopped him and said, "Doctor, this is so bizarre or the universe has one hell of a warped sense of humor."
I told him about having the disease all my life.

And the treatment..PREDNISONE. Just like with humans. However with cats, there is no side effect, no moon face.

I gave her the pred following the same tapering directions. And voila, she got better immediately. She lived another two years.

Just wanted to share since before that I never knew animals could get UC.

---

diagnosed with UC in 1962
regualr meds:
Asulfadine (500mg tablets, 6 daily)
Folic Acid
Zantac as needed
open heart surgery in 2005 for removal of aortic root aneurysm

When I first started researching Uc, I would google it and it was always on the top of the search engine (Uc in animals). Now things have changed dramatically and now when you search it, you get Uc in humans. But boy is that weird to have an animal you could realllllly relate to! Just a question, if a cat DID have moon face from pred - how would you know????? :)

---

When my vet told me, "no moonface" for the cat (after I had told him about taking pred when I was young), we both laughed cause you are right....how would we know?

What amazed me was how fast she got well and that she never got a flare in the last two years. Wish it was as easy to cure in humans.

---

diagnosed with UC in 1962
regualr meds:
Asulfadine (500mg tablets, 6 daily)
Folic Acid
Zantac as needed
open heart surgery in 2005 for removal of aortic root aneurysm